Alec Bohm, Greyson Jenista Lead Kansas 2018 MLB Draft Prospects

1. Alec Bohm, 3B, Wichita State (BA Rank: 7)4YR • Jr. • 6-5 • 240 • R-R • Bohm has been one of the most impressive college hitters in the 2018 draft class and has positioned himself to go early in the first round after several big performances in front of large groups of evaluators this spring. With a large, 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame, Bohm brings a vast amount of strength to the batter’s box, which helps provide some of the best raw power in the country. Bohm has gotten to that power frequently this spring, hitting .353/.464/.596 through his first 36 games with eight home runs and nine doubles. Perhaps more impressive than Bohm’s power output—he also hit 11 homers as a sophomore and six as a freshman—is his improved plate discipline this season. He’s cut his strikeout rate and significantly improved his walk rate, taking the free pass more frequently than striking out for the first time in his collegiate career. He has an exceptional understanding of the strike zone and always seem to have a plan when he steps in the batter’s box, with the ability to make adjustments within an at-bat. His loud spring comes on the heels of a summer in the Cape Cod League, where Bohm was selected to the all-star game and finished second in the league with a .351 average. Bohm has done as much as anyone in the 2018 class to prove himself with the bat, but where the questions will surface for him are on the defensive side. Some scouts think Bohm will eventually have to move to first base, while others believe his strong arm will be enough for him to stay at the hot corner.

2. Greyson Jenista, OF/1B, Wichita State (BA Rank: 29)4YR • Jr. • 6-4 • 240 • L-R • Jenista led Wichita State in hitting during his first two years in college, but significantly raised his draft stock last summer after being named the MVP of the Cape Cod League with a .310/.391/.401 slash line and three home runs. He has big-time raw power—with some scouts describing it as plus-plus raw power—but he has struggled to get to it during games with a level bat path and a contact-oriented approach that’s seen him record just 11 extra-base hits through his first 35 games. He has a solid approach and has walked more than he’s struck out each year in the Atlantic Sun. Previously a first baseman for the Shockers, Jenista played center field during the Cape Cod League and then played the position for Wichita State for much of his junior season before returning to back to first base in April. At 6-foot-4, 220-pounds most scouts believe that Jenista will be a corner player at the next level, with a high-maintenance body. He currently runs well for his size and will show occasional above-average run times, but evaluators believe that will back up as he develops into a 40 or 45-grade runner. Jenista’s track record with Wichita State and in the Cape Cod League is a strong one, and teams who believe he has untapped power potential might see him as a back of the first round caliber player, but his defensive future is a question and all of his value is tied up in the bat.

3. Jackson Goddard, RHP, Kansas (BA Rank: 192)4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 229 • R-R • Goddard missed a month and a half of the season with a strained oblique muscle, but he got back on the mound in mid-May, when he reminded everyone why he’s an intriguing starting pitching prospect as he struck out the first seven batters he faced against Oklahoma State. When he’s locked in, Goddard can show three above-average pitches. He has a history of pitching his best against his toughest opponents. He struck out 13 while walking no one in a dominating outing as a sophomore against Oklahoma State, and was similarly effective against Oklahoma and TCU that year, but he ended the season with a 4.29 ERA because he struggled against West Virginia, Samford and Oral Roberts. Goddard's 92-94 mph fastball plays as an above-average pitch and he pretty consistently has a plus changeup. His slider is less consistent but will also show signs of being an above-average pitch at its best. He struggles to stay in the strike zone consistently, but when he’s locked in, he can be great. Too often, however, he is working hard just to get through five innings.

4. Codi Heuer, RHP, Wichita State (BA Rank: 298)4YR • Jr. • 6-4 • 195 • R-R • No one bit on drafting Heuer as a draft-eligible sophomore last year, but that should change this year after he posted a solid season as the Shockers' Friday night starter. Hitters get a good look at the ball as Heuer has a long arm action, but he carries his 92-93 mph velocity easily through starts and generally has 94-96 mph available whenever he needs it. Both his slider and changeup are below-average pitches right now, so a team drafting Heuer will either need to help him improve his secondaries or move him to the bullpen, where all of his stuff would likely play up.

5. Chandler Sanburn, RHP, Wichita State (BA Rank: 409)4YR • Sr. • 6-2 • 195 • R-R • After three years in a variety of low-leverage roles, Sandburn has blossomed as Wichita State's closer as a senior in 2018. He willl flash premium velocity as he's touched 96-97 mph this year and he mixes in an average 82-84 mph slider. Sandburn still isn't consistent as his stuff and control vary pretty significantly from outing to outing. He should be a useful senior sign who can fit in a minor league bullpen.

6. Zach Leban, RHP, Kansas (BA Rank: 461)4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 245 • R-R • Kansas’ closer is a massive, 6-foot-3, 245-pound righthander with the big stuff to match. He’s touched 97 mph and is consistently 92-94 mph. He blew away hitters early in the season, but his results tailed off as the Jayhawks entered the conference schedule, even as he sharpened his slurvy slider into more of a fringe-average pitch. Leban’s size and arm strength make him a potentially useful bullpen piece who could go late on day two or early on day three of the draft.

7. Kea'von Edwards, OF, Cowley County (Kan.) JC (BA Rank: N/A)JC • So. • 6-1 • 195 • R-R • A 30th-round pick of the Rays out of high school in 2016, Edwards was the conference freshman of the year and has followed that up with a solid sophomore season where he leads Cowley County in home runs. Edwards is an above-average runner who plays a solid center field and has an above-average arm. He's an intriguing speed and power prospect.

8. Devin Foyle, OF, Kansas (BA Rank: N/A)4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 185 • B-L • The switch-hitting Foyle doesn't really have a plus tool, but he gets the most out of his ability. He's ranked among the better hitters in the Big 12 this season, but his left field profile may mean he ends up coming back to be a senior sign next year.

10. Tyler Jones, RHP, Wichita State (BA Rank: N/A)4YR • R-Jr. • 6-3 • 185 • R-R • As a high school senior, Jones posted a microscopic 0.15 ERA for Andale (Kan.) HS. After splitting time between the pen and weekday rotation as a freshman, Jones pitched two years as a reliever for the Shockers before being declared ineligible for what would have been his senior season. A team may still draft Jones as he'll sit 93-96 mph at his best, but his lack of success in college (he posted a 6.83 ERA in three seasons) ensures it will be late if it happens.

11. Drew Mount, OF, Kansas State (BA Rank: N/A)4YR • Jr. • 5-11 • 205 • L-R • Mount went to San Jose State to play safety for the football team, but after redshirting he decided to go back to baseball. After two years at De Anza (Calif.) JC, he made an immediate impact for the Wildcats as their center fielder. Mount is an above-average runner and has above-average power potential, but the rest of his game is catching up as he's still raw for his age.

12. William Dennis, LHP, Blue Valley Northwest HS, Overland Park, Kan. (BA Rank: N/A)HS • - • 6-4 • 205 • L-L • Dennis put himself on scout's follow lists with a strong summer on the showcase circuit where he showed an 87-89 mph and a promising curveball, but his stuff has backed up this spring (84-88 mph) making it more likely he gets to Oklahoma.

13. Dayton Dugas, OF, Wichita State (BA Rank: N/A)4YR • Jr. • 6-3 • 225 • R-R • A 29th-round pick of the Tigers coming out of high school in 2015, Dugas has been a three-year starter for the Shockers. He has plus raw power, but that power struggles to translate into games because he doesn't make consistent enough contact.

15. Tanner Gragg, C, Kansas (BA Rank: N/A)4YR • Sr. • 6-1 • 202 • R-R • Gragg's inability to hit has kept him from earning a starting job at Kansas, but the senior could still end up being a pro because he can throw and is a solid receiver.

16. Erik Sabrowski, LHP, Cloud County (Kan.) JC (BA Rank: N/A)JC • So. • 6-4 • 245 • -L • Sabrowski has dominated Kansas junior college hitters, which is nearly impossible to do in a league where the wind often turns pop flies into home runs. The lefty has solved that problem by keeping the ball out of the air–he's striking out 16 batters per nine innings. As a first baseman/DH he'd actually hit more home runs (9) than he'd given up (5) as of late April. Sabrowski touches 93 mph with his fastball. He was sitting 87-90 mph early in the season, but has been 88-91 mph more recently, which could push him up draft boards.

17. Cam Wynne, RHP, Johnson County (Kan.) JC (BA Rank: N/A)JC • Fr. • 6-5 • 205 • R-R • Wynne has plenty of arm strength with a fastball that will touch 97 mph, but at this point he has little idea how to aim it, which explains why he had walked as many as he had struck out.

18. Gunner Troutwine, C, Wichita State (BA Rank: N/A)4YR • Sr. • 6-2 • 225 • R-R • Troutwine went from being a somewhat baby-faced junior to a grizzled senior thanks to one of the best beards in college baseball. His bat has grown along with the beard. He was hitting .305/.383/.525 in late April as he was easily putting together the best season of his four years at Wichita State. Troutwine's hitting ability is likely to get him drafted. He's a below-average receiver.